little

adj.

1. 小的；比较小的
   not big; small; smaller than others
   1. a little house
      小房子
   2. a little group of tourists
      一小批游客
   3. a little old lady
      一位小老太太
   4. the classic little black dress
      经典式样的黑色小连衣裙
   5. ‘Which do you want?’ ‘I'll take the little one.’
      “你要哪一个？”“我要那个小的。”
   6. She gave a little laugh.
      她笑了一笑。
   7. We should manage, with a little bit of luck.
      我们只要有一点点运气就能应付过去。
   8. Here's a little something (= a small present) for your birthday.
      这是送给你的生日小礼物。
2. （用在形容词的后面表示喜爱或厌恶，尤指屈尊俯就地）可爱的，可怜的，讨厌的
   used after an adjective to show affection or dislike, especially in a patronizing way (= one that suggests that you think you are better than sb)
   1. The poor little thing ! It's lost its mother.
      这可怜的小家伙！没有了妈妈。
   2. What a nasty little man!
      多么令人讨厌的家伙！
   3. She's a good little worker.
      她是个讨人喜欢的工人。
   4. He'd become quite the little gentleman.
      他成了颇有风度的绅士了。
3. 年幼的；幼小的
   young
   1. a little boy/girl
      小男孩 / 女孩
   2. my little brother/sister (= younger brother/sister)
      我的弟弟 / 妹妹
   3. I lived in America when I was little.
      我小时候生活在美国。
4. 短的；近的；短暂的
   short
   1. A little while later the phone rang.
      过了一小会儿电话响了起来。
   2. Shall we walk a little way?
      我们走一小段路好吗？
5. 微不足道的；不严重的
   not important; not serious
   1. I can't remember every little detail.
      我记不住每一个微小的细节。
   2. You soon get used to the little difficulties.
      你很快就会习惯这些小小的不便了。

det.

pron.

1. （与不可数名词连用）不多的
   used with uncountable nouns to mean ‘not much’
   1. There was little doubt in my mind.
      我心里几乎没有疑问。
   2. Students have little or no choice in the matter.
      学生在这个问题上很少有或没有选择余地。
   3. I understood little of what he said.
      我几乎听不懂他所讲的。
   4. She said little or nothing (= hardly anything) about her experience.
      她对自己的经历几乎只字不提。
   5. Tell him as little as possible .
      尽量少告诉他。
2. （与不可数名词连用）少量的，一些
   used with uncountable nouns to mean ‘a small amount’, ‘some’
   1. a little milk/sugar/tea
      少许牛奶 / 糖 / 茶
   2. If you have any spare milk, could you give me a little?
      你要是有多余的牛奶，给我一些好吗？
   3. I've only read a little of the book so far.
      这本书我才读了一小部分。
   4. It caused not a little/no little (= a lot of) confusion.
      这事引起了不小的混乱。
   5. After a little (= a short time) he got up and left.
      过了一会儿他站起来走了。

adv.

1. 不多；稍许；略微
   not much; only slightly
   1. He is little known as an artist.
      几乎没人知道他是个艺术家。
   2. I slept very little last night.
      昨晚我几乎没怎么睡。
   3. Little did I know that this spelled the end of my career.
      我一点也没想到这会断送了我的职业生涯。
2. 少许；少量；一点
   to a small degree
   1. She seemed a little afraid of going inside.
      她好像有点害怕进去。
   2. These shoes are a little (bit) too big for me.
      我穿这双鞋太大了一点。
   3. Everything has become just that little bit harder.
      一切都变得艰难了。
   4. She felt tired and more than a little worried.
      她感到既疲劳又非常担忧。

DETERMINER, QUANTIFIER, AND ADVERB USES 限定词、量词和副词用法

1. DET （数量上）微少的，少到几乎没有的（可用so，too，very修饰）
   You use little to indicate that there is only a very small amount of something. You can use 'so', 'too', and 'very' in front of little.
   1. I had little money and little free time...
      我没什么钱，也没多少空闲时间。
   2. I find that I need very little sleep these days...
      我发现最近我只需要睡很少时间。
   3. There is little doubt that a diet high in fibre is more satisfying...
      毫无疑问，高纤维的饮食更尽人意。
   4. So far little progress has been made towards ending the fighting...
      到目前为止，在结束交战方面还没取得什么进展。
   5. The pudding is quick and easy and needs little attention once in the oven.
      这种布丁做起来简单快捷，放到烤箱里之后就不用操什么心了。
   6. Little is also a quantifier.
      
   7. Little of the existing housing is of good enough quality...
      现有的住房几乎少有质量过关的。
   8. They claim that little of the $16.5 million dollars in aid sent by the US government has reached them.
      他们声称美国政府提供的1,650万美元资助到他们手上时已所剩无几。
   9. Little is also a pronoun.
      
   10. He ate little, and drank less...
       他没吃什么东西，更没喝什么。
   11. In general, employers do little to help the single working mother...
       一般而言，雇主很少为工作的单亲妈妈提供帮助。
   12. Little is known about his childhood.
       对他的童年所知甚少。
2. ADV-GRADED （频率或程度）微小地，小到几乎没有地
   Little means not very often or to only a small extent.
   1. On their way back to Marseille they spoke very little...
      返回马赛的路上，他们没怎么说话。
   2. Only Africa is at present little affected by hard drugs.
      目前只有非洲没怎么受到硬毒品的影响。
3. DET （数量上）不多的（亦作a very little）
   A little of something is a small amount of it, but not very much. You can also say a very little.
   1. Mrs Caan needs a little help getting her groceries home...
      卡安太太需要有人帮把手将食品杂货拿回家。
   2. A little food would do us all some good...
      吃点东西，对我们大家都会有好处。
   3. ...a little light reading...
      一点消遣性的阅读
   4. I shall be only a very little time.
      我很快就好。
   5. Little is also a pronoun.
      
   6. They get paid for it. Not much. Just a little.
      他们干这是有报酬的。不多，只有一点。
   7. Little is also a quantifier.
      
   8. Pour a little of the sauce over the chicken...
      在鸡肉上浇一点调味汁。
   9. I'm sure she won't mind sparing us a little of her time.
      我肯定她不会介意为我们抽点时间。
4. ADV-GRADED 短时间地；一会儿地
   If you do something a little, you do it for a short time.
   1. He walked a little by himself in the garden.
      他一个人在花园里散了一会儿步。
5. ADV-GRADED （程度上）一点地，少量地
   A little or a little bit means to a small extent or degree.
   1. He complained a little of a nagging pain between his shoulder blades...
      他有几句提到说肩胛骨之间一直在疼。
   2. He was a little bit afraid of his father's reaction...
      他有点害怕父亲的反应。
   3. If you have to drive when you are tired, go a little more slowly than you would normally...
      如果不得不疲劳驾驶，那就开得比平时慢一点。
   4. He wanted to have someone to whom he could talk a little about himself.
      他希望能有人听他说说关于自己的一些事。
6. PHRASE 逐渐地；一点一点地
   If something happens little by little, it happens very gradually.
   1. In the beginning he had felt well, but little by little he was becoming weaker...
      一开始他感觉很好，但慢慢地就变虚弱了。
   2. I would have to learn, little by little, to exist alone.
      我得慢慢学会独自生活。

You can use the adjective little to talk about things that are small. ...a little house. ...little children. However, little is not normally used to emphasize or draw attention to the fact that something is small. For instance, you do not usually say 'The town is little' or 'I have a very little car', but you can say The town is small' or I have a very small car'. Little is a less precise word than small, and may be used to suggest the speaker's feelings or attitude towards the person or thing being described. For that reason, little is often used after another adjective. What a nice little house you've got here!... Shut up, you horrible little boy! Little and a little are both used as determiners in front of uncount nouns, but they do not have the same meaning. For example, if you say 'I have a little money', this is a positive statement and you are saying that you have some money. However, if you say 'I have little money', this is a negative statement and you are saying that you have almost no money.
little作形容词时表示“小的”，如：a little house（小房子），little children（小孩子）。但little一般不用于强调某物之小，如通常不会说 The town is little或 I have a very little car, 但可以说The town is small（这个城镇很小）或 I have a very small car（我有一辆很小的汽车）。little不如small精确，而且可用于表示说话人对于所谈论的人或物的感情或态度。因而，little常跟在另一个形容词之后，如：What a nice little house you've got here（你这小房子真漂亮啊），Shut up, you horrible little boy（闭嘴，你这个讨厌的小家伙）。little和a little都可用作限定词修饰不可数名词，但其含义不同。例如，I have a little money（我有一点钱）是肯定陈述，表示有一些钱，而I have little money（我没什么钱）是否定陈述，表示几乎没钱。

ADJECTIVE USES 形容词用法

The comparative littler and the superlative littlest are sometimes used in spoken English for meanings 1, 3, and 4, but otherwise the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective little are not used.
口语中义项1、3、4有时用比较级littler和最高级littlest，但除此之外little作形容词时都不用比较级和最高级。

1. ADJ-GRADED 小的（比small略欠正式）
   Little things are small in size. Little is slightly more informal than small .
   1. We sat around a little table, eating and drinking wine.
      我们围坐在一张小桌旁吃吃喝喝。
   2. ...the little group of art students.
      那一小群艺术专业的学生
2. ADJ 娇小的；小巧的
   You use little to indicate that someone or something is small, in a pleasant and attractive way.
   1. She's got the nicest little house not far from the library.
      她有一幢非常漂亮的小房子，就在离图书馆不远处。
   2. ...a little old lady...
      身材娇小的老太太
   3. James usually drives a little hatchback.
      詹姆斯通常开一辆小巧的掀背车。
3. ADJ-GRADED 幼小的
   A little child is young.
   1. I have a little boy of 8...
      我有一个8岁的小男孩。
   2. When I was little I was very hyperactive.
      我小时候异常好动。
4. ADJ (兄弟或姐妹)年纪较小的
   Your little sister or brother is younger than you are.
   1. Whenever Daniel's little sister was asked to do something she always had a naughty reply.
      每次让丹尼尔的妹妹做什么事，她总是要淘气地回嘴。
5. ADJ-GRADED （距离、时间、事件等）短的
   A little distance, period of time, or event is short in length.
   1. Just go down the road a little way, turn left, and cross the bridge...
      沿这条路走一小段，向左转，然后过桥。
   2. Why don't we just wait a little while and see what happens...
      为什么不再等一下看看事态的发展。
   3. I've been wanting to have a little talk with you.
      我一直想找机会跟你谈几句。
6. ADJ-GRADED （声音、手势等）快速的
   A little sound or gesture is quick.
   1. I had a little laugh to myself...
      我自顾自地笑了一下。
   2. She stood up quickly, giving a little cry of astonishment...
      她迅速站了起来，惊叫了一声。
   3. He turned with a little nod and I watched him walk away.
      他边点了点头边转过身，我看着他走了。
7. ADJ 微不足道的；细小的；琐碎的
   You use little to indicate that something is not serious or important.
   1. ...irritating little habits...
      烦人的小毛病
   2. Harry found himself getting angry over little things that had never bothered him before.
      哈里发现自己会因为小事而生气，而以前他从不会在意这些事情。

1. I was a little surprised when she consented.
   我有点儿吃惊她竟然同意了。
2. I had little money and little free time
   我没什么钱，也没多少空闲时间。
3. I find that I need very little sleep these days
   我发现最近我只需要睡很少时间。
4. There is little doubt that a diet high in fibre is more satisfying
   毫无疑问，高纤维的饮食更尽人意。
5. So far little progress has been made towards ending the fighting
   到目前为止，在结束交战方面还没取得什么进展。
6. The pudding is quick and easy and needs little attention once in the oven.
   这种布丁做起来简单快捷，放到烤箱里之后就不用操什么心了。
7. On their way back to Marseille they spoke very little
   返回马赛的路上，他们没怎么说话。
8. Only Africa is at present little affected by hard drugs.
   目前只有非洲没怎么受到硬毒品的影响。
9. Mrs Caan needs a little help getting her groceries home
   卡安太太需要有人帮把手将食品杂货拿回家。
10. A little food would do us all some good
    吃点东西，对我们大家都会有好处。
11. I shall be only a very little time.
    我很快就好。
12. He walked a little by himself in the garden.
    他一个人在花园里散了一会儿步。
13. He complained a little of a nagging pain between his shoulder blades
    他有几句提到说肩胛骨之间一直在疼。
14. He was a little bit afraid of his father's reaction
    他有点害怕父亲的反应。
15. If you have to drive when you are tired, go a little more slowly than you would normally
    如果不得不疲劳驾驶，那就开得比平时慢一点。
16. He wanted to have someone to whom he could talk a little about himself.
    他希望能有人听他说说关于自己的一些事。
17. In the beginning he had felt well, but little by little he was becoming weaker
    一开始他感觉很好，但慢慢地就变虚弱了。
18. I would have to learn, little by little, to exist alone.
    我得慢慢学会独自生活。
19. We sat around a little table, eating and drinking wine.
    我们围坐在一张小桌旁吃吃喝喝。
20. She's got the nicest little house not far from the library.
    她有一幢非常漂亮的小房子，就在离图书馆不远处。
21. James usually drives a little hatchback.
    詹姆斯通常开一辆小巧的掀背车。
22. I have a little boy of 8
    我有一个8岁的小男孩。
23. When I was little I was very hyperactive.
    我小时候异常好动。
24. Whenever Daniel's little sister was asked to do something she always had a naughty reply.
    每次让丹尼尔的妹妹做什么事，她总是要淘气地回嘴。
25. Just go down the road a little way, turn left, and cross the bridge
    沿这条路走一小段，向左转，然后过桥。
26. Why don't we just wait a little while and see what happens
    为什么不再等一下看看事态的发展。
27. I've been wanting to have a little talk with you.
    我一直想找机会跟你谈几句。
28. She stood up quickly, giving a little cry of astonishment
    她迅速站了起来，惊叫了一声。
29. He turned with a little nod and I watched him walk away.
    他边点了点头边转过身，我看着他走了。
30. Harry found himself getting angry over little things that had never bothered him before.
    哈里发现自己会因为小事而生气，而以前他从不会在意这些事情。

adj.

a little bird told me

• （不想说出是谁告诉的）有人告诉我的，不告诉你我是怎么知道的
  used to say that sb told you sth but you do not want to say who it was

great/tall oaks from little acorns grow

• 参天橡树长自小小橡实；合抱之树，生于毫末
  something large and successful often begins in a very small way

pron.

little by little

• 缓慢地；逐渐地；一点一点地
  slowly; gradually
  1. Little by little the snow disappeared.
     雪渐渐融化了。
  2. His English is improving little by little.
     他的英语正在逐步提高。

noun

1. a small amount or duration
   1. he accepted the little they gave him

adj

1. small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context)
   1. a nice little job
   2. bless your little heart
   3. my dear little mother
   4. a sweet little deal
   5. I'm tired of your petty little schemes
   6. filthy little tricks
   7. what a nasty little situation

2. (informal) small and of little importance
   1. a fiddling sum of money
   2. a footling gesture
   3. our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war
   4. a little (or small) matter
   5. a dispute over niggling details
   6. limited to petty enterprises
   7. piffling efforts
   8. giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction

   Synonym:    fiddlingfootlinglilliputiannigglingpiddlingpifflingpettypicayunetrivial

3. limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
   1. a little dining room
   2. a little house
   3. a small car
   4. a little (or small) group

   Synonym:    small

4. (of a voice) faint
   1. a little voice
   2. a still small voice

   Synonym:    small

5. lowercase
   1. little a
   2. small a
   3. e.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters

   Synonym:    minusculesmall

6. (of children and animals) young, immature
   1. what a big little boy you are
   2. small children

   Synonym:    small

7. low in stature
   1. he was short and stocky
   2. short in stature
   3. a short smokestack
   4. a little man

   Synonym:    short

adv

1. not much
   1. he talked little about his family